One of the last remaining farm houses on SW Butner Rd. met the bulldozer this week. Tommy Thayer, current lead guitarist for the band KISS grew up in the home.
Tommy’s passion for 70s hard rock bands drove his desire to play electric guitar as a teenager with many local garage and club bands, eventually evolving into the formation his own hard-rocking act, Black 'N Blue.
With a life-changing move to Southern California in early 1983, Black ‘N Blue had immediate success packing out Hollywood’s rock clubs, and within six months signed a major worldwide recording contract with Geffen Records. Tommy’s dream of making records, videos and touring the world suddenly became a reality.
Touring as an opening act for their heroes KISS in 1985, Black ‘N Blue befriended bassist Gene Simmons and asked him to produce the band’s next record. After working together for several months in the studio, Gene noticed Tommy’s skills and work ethic, in turn asking him to write and record song demos with him for KISS.
By the late 80s and Black ‘N Blue’s career wanning, Tommy began spending more time working in the KISS camp, writing songs, recording demos and taking care of day-to-day business. By the early 90s, it became a full-time job.
Tommy’s management of the 1995 Worldwide KISS Convention tour and KISS MTV Unplugged concert led to his playing a unique support role in the success of the KISS Alive Worldwide Reunion tour in 1996. In preparation for the tour, Tommy worked with guitarist Ace Frehley, helping him relearn his signature solos and guitar parts from the 70s.
In addition to playing guitar and contributing musically at KISS rehearsals, sound checks and in the recording studio, Tommy took over as producer and editor of KISS’s film and video productions starting in 1998, producing the acclaimed, KISS, the Second Coming, long form video and DVD, as well as the opening title sequence in New Line Cinema’s feature film, Detroit Rock City. In 2000 Tommy produced the KISS Showtime Television pay-per-view, The Last KISS.
By 2002 and with the growing uncertainty of Ace Frehley’s involvement in the band, Tommy stood by for a KISS performance at the 2002 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony in Salt Lake City to fill-in on lead guitar if necessary. One month later Tommy got the call and donned the spaceman makeup for the first time, performing onstage with KISS at a private concert in Jamaica. Several TV appearances followed in 2002 and by the end if the year, Tommy was told the job was his.
Tommy officially took over the coveted KISS lead guitar spot on February 28th, 2003.
In his official debut concert, KISS joined forces with the 70-piece Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for a concert at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne Australia. Recorded and filmed in front of 40,000 KISS fans, a pay-per-view, CD and DVD were released worldwide later in the year. A KISS Japanese tour in March 2003 was next, as a forerunner to the KISS-Aerosmith World Domination tour that kicked off in summer 2003, setting sales records and a top grossing tour of the year in Pollstar Magazine.Tommy was on the road again in May 2004 with the KISS Rock The Nation World Tour. The tour was chronicled in the concert, documentary DVD, KISS Rock The Nation Live! Tommy produced the critically acclaimed DVD filmed in high-def and released worldwide in December 2004.
With a desire to get involved and give back to the community where he grew up in Oregon, Tommy was elected to the Board of Trustees at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon in September, 2005.
Through 2006 and 2007, Tommy has continued his interest in helping inspire young kids with a commitment to support school programs, particularly in music. He arranged for new musical instruments to be donated to jump-start ailing school band programs in Oregon. Tommy has made appearances at several middle and high schools speaking to students with hopes that they will follow their dreams and accomplish all that they aspire to do.
In March 2007, Tommy along with Gene Simmons visited the Marines of Camp Pendleton again, as well as members of the US Army, Navy and Air Force, to honor their brave commitment to our country with a rally and live performance featuring a medley of the armed forces anthems that was filmed for an hour-long Gene Simmons Family Jewels TV special that aired on Memorial Day.
In summer 2007, Tommy's passion for golf inspired the now annual Pacific University Legends Golf Classic, hosted by Tommy Thayer. The premier golf and entertainment event features Tommy along with a line-up of PGA pros and other celebrity friends and musicians who help raise money for Pacific University's Athletics Program in Oregon. (www.pacificlegendsgolf.com)
KISS kicked off their Alive/35 tour in Melbourne Australia in March, 2008 to a huge crowd of 60,000 fans celebrating the 35-year history of the band. The European leg of the Alive/35 tour winded through 19 countries with 30 sold-out shows for two months in May and June, playing to half-million KISS fans. The tour will continue through 2008 and 2009. (www.kissonline.com)
Also in 2008, Tommy proudly announced the launch of his own line of Tommy Thayer Signature Edition guitar amplifiers. Working together with German amp manufacturer, Hughes & Kettner, the Tommy Thayer Signature Edition Duotone amplifier has already made it’s mark on the road with KISS this year. Tommy has decided to donate all his royalties earned from sales of his signature amp to the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, to support of the important medical needs of sick and injured children. (www.childrenshospitalla.org)
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